Just in case you don’t get a White Christmas of your own, have one from Switzerland.
A very Merry Christmas, or whatever festival you choose to celebrate (or not) to all of TST’s readers.
Photo Flickr ashley stewart noble
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I hope that carnivores amongst the readership won’t object too much, but I feel a few vegetable-related posts coming on. It’s just that time of year.
The time of year when the Swiss love to have festivals celebrating a particular vegetable – be it pumpkin, turnip or carrot.
So a warm welcome to today’s vegetable; the onion. Starring at an onion market in Bern next Monday, 24th November. If you want to sound local, it’s called the Zibelemärit.
Most onions are of the genus Allium cepa (which I guess explains the Italian word: cipolla) but I wouldn’t betting you’ll find a good few …read more
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I’m not one to blow my own trumpet; probably because I don’t have a trumpet.
But I do think it’s fair to tell you that Zurich has just been listed as the city with the highest quality of living.
Not just in Switzerland, or even Europe. The best in the world. And for the seventh year running…
The Mercer group ranks 215 cities worldwide (Baghdad comes last so they have clearly got something right) against New York as a basis.
London (38) Paris (32) New York (49) and Tokyo (35) are all rated fairly similarly, while the holders of the Euro 2008 (Austria and Switzerland) take all top …read more
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Well, nothing like coming back with a bang!
If you plan to be in Switzerland on December 3rd, how about a guided tour round an atomic power station?
I’ve done the tour and it’s fascinating. You get the whole deal, dressing up in white suits like the baddies in Dr No, and they wave Geiger counters at you all the time.
It’s really interesting and the best bit is the cooling water for the fuel rods. The water has to be totally pure and de-ionised and is the most amazing blue I’ve ever seen.
Looking round the control rooms is fascinating if you’re into switches and …read more
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After a period of inactivity, during which contractual stuff between the nice people at b5media and Switzerland have been sorted out, The Switzerland Traveler is back in business.
Rather than opt for a picture of snow falling last week, here’s a poster celebrating the graphic prowess of Switzerland’s designers.
I dare say most of you will be pre-occupied by the elections over the next few days, but don’t forget to come back soon for a small dose of calm and natural beauty.
And if you have any requests for information, please let me know.
Picture: Flickr Network Osaka
Part of my daily ritual is to check the headlines on the Daily Telegraph, surely one of the finest online newspapers there is.
On a more infrequent basis, I also read Private Eye, the satirical current affairs magazine.
Why do I tell you this? Because one of Private Eye’s most common digs at the Torygraph (as the Telegraph is also known) is that it tends to use pictures of scantily clad females in newsworthy situations, presumably to boost circulation. I think I’m talking about number of copies sold, rather than circulation of blood, but you can never be too sure.
So, today, I find …read more
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If you’ve not experienced the low droning sound of an alphorn, then Nendaz, near Verbier, is the place to be this weekend.
It’s remarkable how the sound travels through the mountains, which is, I guess, the reason why they became popular.
They might not be as practical as mobile phones, but do at least have the benefit of requiring neither batteries nor antennae.
Up at an altitude of 2,200m, Tracouet is the setting for the International Alphorn Festival.
To quote the official blurb “Over the course of the weekend, this alpine instrument will be the motivation for the meeting of players of many different …read more
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One of the great things about writing on the topic of Switzerland is that one gets to cover an entire range of Swiss traditional activities.
Whether it’s bringing cows down the mountains, pumpkin or chestnut festivals, or even the spectacle of two cows fighting each other, summer in Switzerland has the best entertainment there is.
Next weekend sees the annual wrestling, or Schwingen, championships on Mount Rigi, near Luzern. It’s basically a bunch of farmers with some extra trousers trying to throw each other on to their backs, but it’s taken very seriously by the competitors and the local public.
It warrants coverage on …read more
Mainly just a post for locals, although if you are planning a trip next year and are thinking of visiting friends or relatives in Winterthur, then maybe round about this time is an option.
A lot of places have annual celebrations, and the annual festival in Winterthur is allegedly the biggest.
Of course, I’m still sticking with my belief that the Badenfahrt is the best festival in the country but as it’s every 10 years, that doesn’t really help anyone. Unless you are reading this in June 2017, of course…
It’s one of those turn-up-and-have-a-look-round type of events, so no need to describe …read more
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I know you like these ones.
On Sunday, Lichtensteig, a small town in the Toggenburg area, near Wildhaus, has a barrel organ event.
It’s for antique or home-made barrel organs, and around 20 are expected. I can’t imagine the noise if they all play at the same time.
And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a small antiques fair and an old fairground roundabout too, and where there’s any gathering of people, it will be accompanied by the smell of sizzling sausages
The ”Friends of vintage motor-bikes” are also planning to turn up – surely a good time guaranteed for all!
Verkehrsverein Lichtensteig,
Hauptgasse 29, 9620 Lichtensteig
www.verkehrsverein-lichtensteig.ch
Photo: Flickr …read more
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